ISSN : 1229-9618(Print)
ISSN : 2671-7506(Online)
ISSN : 2671-7506(Online)
Chinese Studies Vol.54 pp.41-56
DOI : https://doi.org/10.14378/KACS.2016.54.54.3
DOI : https://doi.org/10.14378/KACS.2016.54.54.3
A study of Desire within Metamorphosis in LiaoZhaiZhiYi ― focused on tales of ‘metamorphosis into animals’
Abstract
The study aims to analyze the metamorphosis in LiaoZhaiZhiYi to identify why and how characters are transformed into animals. It also aims to identify the characteristics of the ambitions on the subjects of the transformation which wanted to achieve through the action.
As the introduction, the first chapter explains the correlations between metamorphosis and human ambitions that can be found from myths and legends to the novels, written in the Qing Dynasty.
The second chapter analyzes the following four works; ABao, XiangGao, CuZhi and ZhuQing in which main characters (human) transforms into animals. Why the main characters are changed and how it has been happening are analyzed in the second chapter. What lacks inside them and the pressure from the outside combination formed them into animals in a magical way and helped them to achieve their goals.
The third chapter analyzes the characteristics of the ambitions which the main characters want to achieve through transformation, based on the analysis in the second chapter. The first ambition was to achieve true love, while the second one was to break from social constraints and the third one was to escape from the reality, and finally, the fourth one was to desire for recognition. Ambition has multiple layers. However, the main characters of the stories did not pursue sexual or material ambitions through the transformation. The ambitions were rather strictly generated in the social relations which they belong to. Therefore, social structural violence and people’s ambition to fight against such a structural injustice are reflected in the story and therefore fantasy and reality coexist in the stories in that perspective.
As the introduction, the first chapter explains the correlations between metamorphosis and human ambitions that can be found from myths and legends to the novels, written in the Qing Dynasty.
The second chapter analyzes the following four works; ABao, XiangGao, CuZhi and ZhuQing in which main characters (human) transforms into animals. Why the main characters are changed and how it has been happening are analyzed in the second chapter. What lacks inside them and the pressure from the outside combination formed them into animals in a magical way and helped them to achieve their goals.
The third chapter analyzes the characteristics of the ambitions which the main characters want to achieve through transformation, based on the analysis in the second chapter. The first ambition was to achieve true love, while the second one was to break from social constraints and the third one was to escape from the reality, and finally, the fourth one was to desire for recognition. Ambition has multiple layers. However, the main characters of the stories did not pursue sexual or material ambitions through the transformation. The ambitions were rather strictly generated in the social relations which they belong to. Therefore, social structural violence and people’s ambition to fight against such a structural injustice are reflected in the story and therefore fantasy and reality coexist in the stories in that perspective.